An historically successful group of transit and density opponents in Los Angeles have set their sights on a plan that would add density along the Expo Line in West Los Angeles.
"A Westside nonprofit has sued the city of Los Angeles, seeking to overturn a plan that would allow the construction of up to 6,000 new apartment and condominium units within a half-mile of five Metro Expo Line stations," reports Laura J. Nelson. The Exposition Corridor Transit Neighborhood Plan (technically a Specific Plan in the legal parlance of the city of Los Angeles) was approved in June 2018.
"The advocacy group Fix the City argued in a complaint filed Thursday that Los Angeles should not have approved the Expo Line density plan without first assessing and fixing West L.A.’s 'overburdened and inadequate infrastructure,'" adds Nelson.
Fix the City has a history of using the legal system to obstruct planning efforts in the city of Los Angeles, suing the city for Mobility Plan 2035 and eventually causing the city to rescind the plan and start over. Fix the City also helped successfully block the Hollywood Community Plan in 2012.
The article includes more details on what kinds of development are called for in the Exposition Corridor Transit Neighborhood Plan and the grounds for Fix the City's lawsuit against the city.
FULL STORY: Lawsuit seeks to overturn plan that would allow taller buildings along the Metro Expo Line
LA Times: City Council Should Take Responsibility for Lack of Transit Oriented Development
The Los Angeles Times editorial board has strong words for the Los Angeles City Council about planning for transit oriented development.
Anti-Development Forces Strike at L.A.'s Transit Oriented Communities Program
There's a new front in the city of L.A.'s ongoing conflict between anti-development forces and efforts to add density at and around transit.
Designing a Multi-Modal, User-Focused TOD Vision for Los Angeles' Expo Line
Facing explosive development interest around its Metro station, the small city of Culver on L.A.’s Westside is taking steps to shape its mobility future.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.
Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.
Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation
Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service